JOSEPH L. RICHARDS, RANDOLPH, COLUMBIA COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Farmer Sec. 2; P. O. Randolph; swas born Februsry 2nd, 1845, in Merionethshire, Wales; came to America in the summer of 1869, and stayed a few weeks on the Hudson River, a few miles below Albany; then came to Columbia County, Wisconsin, and lived in the town of Courtland till the fall of 1872, when he went to Milwaukee and worked at the carpenter's trade till January, 1874; he then returned to Courtland, and, on the 9th of that month (January 1874), was married to Ann Jane, daughter of William R. and Ann Roberts, of Portage Prairie, Columbia County, Wisconsin, natives of Wales, and born in the same place as Joseph L Richards, as were also his father, Edmund Richards, and his mother, Ellen Lloyd.Mrs. Richards was born in the town of Clyman, Dodge County, Wisconsin, March 22nd, 1849.
Mr. Richards spent his early life on a farm, and the last six years before leaving Wales, worked in a slate quarry. Purchased his farm of 120 acres in the fall of 1874, and went on it in the spring of 1876.
Has four children - Willie E., Ellen Ann, Maggie and Laura. He is Republican, and both members of the Welsh Methodist Church.